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Best Heated Travel Blankets

Updated January 2022
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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Trillium Worldwide Car Cozy 2 Heated Travel Blanket
Trillium Worldwide
Car Cozy 2 Heated Travel Blanket
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

This fleece option plugs into a 12-volt power outlet for optimal comfort on the go.

Pros

Made of soft polyester fleece. Features a long, 7-foot power cord to reach throughout the vehicle. Automatic, timed shutoff feature ensures you won’t overheat. Ideal for road trips, RVs, or tailgating. Large 58 x 42-inch size.

Cons

This does not get super hot, which was a downside for some.

Best Bang for the Buck
Stalwart 12V Heated Travel Blanket
Stalwart
12V Heated Travel Blanket
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Soft & Affordable
Bottom Line

An affordable option that's soft and attractive; it will keep you warm on cold-weather trips in the car.

Pros

Soft fleece material in a good-looking plaid print. The 12-volt power cord is easy to plug into vehicle power outlet. The 8-foot-long power cord is versatile and user-friendly. Price falls on the lower end of the spectrum.

Cons

Some faulty models that either got too hot or quit working. Some longevity concerns.

Zone Tech Sherpa Fleece Travel Blanket
Zone Tech
Sherpa Fleece Travel Blanket
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Best for Small Spaces
Bottom Line

Ultra-soft and great for very cold conditions, such as car camping.

Pros

Made of soft, fluffy sherpa and fleece material on one side and water-resistant polyester on the other. Thick enough when folded to be used as a pillow. Measures 59 x 43 inches. Select temperature via attached remote control.

Cons

Some users did not think this was warm enough.

Sojoy iHealthComfort Heated Travel Blanket
Sojoy
iHealthComfort Heated Travel Blanket
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Feature-Packed
Bottom Line

This heated blanked offers 3 heat levels and heats quickly.

Pros

Features attached thermostat to adjust heat to desired temperature. Choose from 3 heat levels to achieve optimal comfort. Powered by a 12V plug. Features auto-off function to conserve car battery with 3 time settings: 30, 45, and 60 minutes.

Cons

Some complained that the cord is too short.

Motor Trend 12V Heated Blanket for Car
Motor Trend
12V Heated Blanket for Car
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Best for Backseat
Bottom Line

This large heated blanket has great features, making it one of our top choices.

Pros

Equipped with 78-inch cord, making it best at reaching the backseat of a car, even in large vehicles. Made of super-soft fleece. Blanket is full-sized; 58 inches by 42 inches. Features auto shutoff feature for safety and peace of mind. Heats quickly and is powered by a 12V DC plug.

Cons

There is no temperature adjustment feature.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

56
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Considered
196
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Consulted
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Buying guide for Best heated travel blankets

If you spend time in your car in the winter, you know that road trips and long commutes can be chilly, drafty affairs, even with the heat cranked. A heated travel blanket can help alleviate some of the colder aspects of winter driving, and it does so at a fraction of the cost of heated seats. Heated travel blankets are also a great way to let passengers choose their own comfort level. They’re a lifesaver if you find yourself stranded on a remote winter road waiting for help to arrive.

Before you choose the right one for you, consider factors such as construction materials and how these blankets are powered, in addition to features such as timers, temperature controls, and safety elements like auto shut-off.

Content Image
Heated travel blankets are similar to electric blankets that you buy for your bed, but they are generally less powerful and also less expensive.

Key considerations

Construction material

Fleece is the standard construction material for heated travel blankets, although the type of fleece can vary considerably. Thick polar fleece and water-resistant polyester fleece are the two common types of fleece used, and both offer soft and comfortable surfaces that can help to keep you warm even when the blanket is not plugged in.

Whatever type of fleece you settle on, the material — and the electronic elements inside it — should be rugged enough to hold up to constant road travel.

Power source

Since they are designed largely for automotive travel, heated travel blankets are almost universally powered via a cord that plugs into your car or truck’s 12V (or cigarette lighter) socket. These used to be standard in nearly all vehicles and still largely are, but some car manufacturers no longer include them in select vehicle models. Be sure that your car has a standard 12V socket before getting one of these blankets.

Battery use

Overall, heated travel blankets don’t draw a sizable amount of power from your battery, but some manufacturers specifically note that their blankets are low-amperage. This shouldn’t be a huge issue when the car is running, but if you plan to use a heated travel blanket with the vehicle off, be sure that it draws minimal amperage so you won’t be draining your battery every time you use it.

Temperature

Heated travel blankets usually only become warm, not hot, so you shouldn’t have any issues with them becoming too hot. Some blankets have actually been criticized for not becoming warm enough, which kind of undercuts the whole point of paying up for a powered blanket. Make sure there aren’t any problems with your heated travel blanket under-heating.

Size

The size of the heated travel blanket that you choose is important: too small and the blanket can’t wrap around you and keep you warm, too large and it may feel like it’s taking over the interior of your car. The majority of heated travel blankets are just under 60 inches long, with a width that varies between 30 and 45 inches. Note the size carefully and test out a similarly-sized blanket from your house to verify that such a size will work for you.

A general rule of thumb is to go larger if the blanket is for adults and smaller if it’s for children or pets.

Features

Cord length

The length of the cord that runs from the heated travel blanket to the 12V socket can vary from blanket to blanket and is usually from five to eight feet in length. Get the blanket with the longest cord you can find — with a longer cord, the blanket can be used by anyone in the vehicle, regardless of where they’re sitting.

Temperature settings

Unlike electric blankets for your bed, the ability to select your own temperature with a heated travel blanket is not standard. Some heated travel blankets have a variable settings option, however. This is usually in the form of a switch where you can opt for “high” or “low” temperatures. Rarer still are heated travel blankets with a variable knob you can use to set the temperature across a range of temperatures.

Indicator light

Another non-standard feature you may run across is an LED indicator light. This shows you at a glance when the blanket is running (light on) and when it is not (light off).

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Auto shut-off

While you won’t find many safety features in heated travel blankets, one that some blankets incorporate is an auto shut-off feature. This automatically shuts the blanket down when it becomes too hot.

Timer

Some heated travel blankets offer a timer feature, which allows you to select when the blanket shuts off, so you don’t have to remember to do it yourself. These timers are usually limited to two or three intervals, ranging from a half-hour to an hour and a half.

Appearance

Select a heated travel blanket you find attractive. Heated travel blankets are manufactured in a variety of solid colors and patterns, with plaid being quite common. If you want more options in terms of style, choose a blanket that offers a variety of colors and patterns to choose from.

Heated travel blanket prices

Heated travel blankets start out at under $20 and can reach up to around $40.

Inexpensive: The majority of heated travel blankets are in the $25 to $30 range. At $20, you can find simple blankets with little in the way of controls — you plug them in, they work.

Expensive: At higher prices, blanket quality increases, both in terms of the fleece and the inner electronics. Here you can find larger blankets with longer cords and additional features such as temperature controls, auto shut-off features, and timers.

Tips

  • When looking for a heated travel blanket, try to avoid ones with too much white in it, as you may have a harder time keeping it looking clean on the road.
  • If you hang your electric blanket to dry over a clothesline, don’t use clothespins to secure it, as this can damage the internal wiring of the blanket.
  • So long as your car’s 12V cigarette lighter works when the car is off, so will your heated travel blanket. 12V adapters on some vehicles are not wired directly to the battery, so they cannot power a blanket when the car is off.
  • While it can take a car up to 10 minutes or more to produce enough heat to warm the vehicle’s interior, the majority of heated travel blankets are warm within a minute or two.
  • For ease of storage, seek out a heated travel blanket that ships with a zippered carry bag.
  • If you need more than one heated travel blanket, search for one that ships in packs containing multiple blankets. This is a great way to save a few dollars instead.
  • If you find yourself a 12V socket short when trying to run your heated travel blanket and other car accessories, consider picking up a 12V splitter.
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In addition to using them in a car, heated travel blankets are also great for camping trips, RVs, boating, and anywhere that you have access to a 12V power source.

FAQ

Q. What is polar fleece?
A.
Heated travel blankets are usually constructed from fleece, a knit fabric that features one side that has been brushed out for a softer feel. Fleece is available in a variety of different types, and one popular type is polar fleece. Used largely in winter jackets and blankets, polar fleece is thicker than regular fleece, making it warmer for cold weather use.

Q. How should heated travel blankets be cleaned?
A.
You would think with the wiring inside that you would not be able to machine wash a heated travel blanket, but this is not necessarily the case. Some manufacturers recommend that you wash your heated travel blanket by hand, while others claim that you can use a machine to wash their blankets if you take the proper care.

If a heated travel blanket can be machine washed, you should first remove any cords or controllers, then soak the blanket in cold, soapy water for 15 minutes to loosen any dirt. After soaking, run the blanket through your machine using cold water on the delicate or gentle cycle and let it spin at the end.

To dry the blanket, tumble dry it on low, or stretch it out over a clothesline or frame to air-dry it. The heated travel blanket should be completely dry before you plug it in and attempt to use it.

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